Selecting and narrowing a topic How can I select a topic for a research paper?How can I narrow a topic for research?
Step One: Topic Ideas - List some general topics that you are interested in. Circle one topic (or two that connect) to use as you continue this process. Step Two: Background Information/ Preliminary Research - What do you already know about your topic? If you don’t know much, begin doing some research to better understand the topic. At this stage, you should be verifying that there is credible information available to you on the topic. Step Three: Inquiry/Research Question -Write a question that your research will answer. The question should be open to research and not be something that can be answered with a one word answer. Try to begin your question with how or why.
How can I select a topic for a research paper?How can I narrow a topic for research?
Step One: Topic Ideas - List some general topics that you are interested in. Circle one topic (or two that connect) to use as you continue this process.
Step Two: Background Information/ Preliminary Research - What do you already know about your topic? If you don’t know much, begin doing some research to better understand the topic. At this stage, you should be verifying that there is credible information available to you on the topic.
Step Three: Inquiry/Research Question - Write a question that your research will answer. The question should be open to research and not be something that can be answered with a one word answer. Try to begin your question with how or why.
Links to topic lists:
New York Times
Debate Topics
Topic Selection Handout: